Chiefs rookie Jalen Royals is the future at WR for Patrick Mahomes
Watch what Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals does to the Boise State safety on this play. Royals is a top 120 player on board for the 2025 NFL Draft. #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2025 #2025NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/z2cgrJA0C4 — Sam Teets (@Sam_Teets33) October 7, 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs landed one of the biggest steals of the 2025 NFL draft when they selected Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals at the back end of the fourth round. Royals might struggle to establish himself in a crowded wide receiver room as a rookie, but he projects as a massive part of Kansas City's future plans.
Fans must remain realistic with their expectations for Royals' rookie season. He's a fourth round selection joining a room with three established playmakers and multiple fringe contributors. No one should panic if Royals turns in a quiet year because opportunities to break out loom on the horizon.
Marquise Brown, Jason Brownlee, Travis Kelce, Skyy Moore, Nikko Remigio, Justyn Ross, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are all free agents after the upcoming season. The Chiefs have the opportunity to completely reset their depth at their pass catching positions and redistribute the offense's targets.
Additionally, only two years remain on Rashee Rice's cost-effective rookie contract. If the Chiefs take any inspiration from how the Pittsburgh Steelers handled George Pickens, they might offload Rice for picks or just let him walk. Either way, it seems unlikely an extension is coming for the former star rookie, considering lingering maturity concerns.
All of this potential turnover clears the way for Royals to star alongside Xavier Worthy as Patrick Mahomes' top targets going into 2026 or 2027.
Royals offers the athletic blend to fill multiple roles in Kansas City's offense. He's an explosive athlete with the burst to stack cornerbacks early in routes and the long speed to finish big plays in the end zone. Royals deploys some excellent route fakes and manipulates the cornerback's leverage with his route stem to create favorable space.
Royals is much more than just a vertical threat. He's roughly the same size as Rice, although the rookie might not offer as much contact balance. Royals still provides excellent value on short, schemed touches. His acceleration and speed make him a threat to turn shallow crossing routes or slants into big gains. Rice received most of the offense's low-depth targets in 2024.
Chiefs fans shouldn't expect splashy numbers from Royals in 2025 but should feel excited about the organization's long-term plans for the rookie.
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